> “I just try to get my point across. I don’t have to be PROFOUND” (as he looks at Kenny…)

> On whether the White Sox will contend this season: “Well, I’m not doing this to lose.”

> “You should’ve seen my face when Kenny asked if I wanted to be the manager.”

> When asked how his managerial style differed from Ozzie’s: “I haven’t managed yet, just so you know.”

> On how the lineup will look this season: “Well, Paul Konerko won’t be batting lead off.” ( Ken’s reply: “Oh, you should do that for the first Spring Training game. Nobody tell Konerko.”)

> On the White Sox running game in 2012: “I’m not running at all.”

> To a very passionate fan: “I have a new BFF!”

> ON SCOUTING (looking at Ken): “Don’t we have a guy for that?”

Photo: Ron Vesely

KEN ON HIRING ROBIN: “He was one of those people who I kept on a list for a long time – of people I respect, people who have a passion for this club, this city and our fans. I felt like Robin had the qualities a manager needs: leadership, communication skills, the ability to deal with a variety of personalities and egos. He thoroughly impressed me, and I think he’s perfect for the job.”

-Other Ken answers: dealt a “strength” in Santos for a “potential frontline starter” in Nestor Molina; many options in the bullpen, “some of which you haven’t seen yet”;

-Robin on other Sox topics:

> WHY HE TOOK THE JOB: “When I retired, Jerry said I was always welcome to come back. With the kids getting older and missing the baseball part of my life, so I was ready to do something, and I was thrilled to come back and work behind the scenes. When Kenny asked about being the manager, well, I wasn’t expecting that at all. Then I thought about it, and my wife said, ‘This is the place for you.’ And it’s true – this is the closest baseball family I have. This is where I belong.”

> ADAM DUNN: “You can’t play for the players. But the good news is every season is different. He just needs to be confident, and I think having this offseason to rest will be the best thing for him.”

> NEW COACHES: “These are guys I’ve known for a long time, guys I’ve played with. We have a similar vision on how to play the game, and they have strengths that I don’t.” (When Ken said that Mark Parent and Joe McEwing would be future managers, Robin immediately responded: “Later, much later!”)

> ON BEING MANAGER: “I realize this is a huge responsibility. I have an obligation to the organization, Kenny, Jerry, everybody who buys a ticket. And trust me – I will work hard.”

-Opening Ceremonies started with a SoxFest first: Commissioner Selig on hand to give Jerry Reinsdorf the Commissioner’s Award for all the amazing work the Volunteer Corpshas done. As he said to Jerry with many of the VC members on the stage: “The White Sox won this award on merit. Congratulations on making Chicago a better place to live.”

Photo: Ron Vesely

-Jerry: “This award is for all these people up here. It’s not because of us; it’s because of you.”

-Loud ovation for all the guys during Opening Ceremonies – which also featured our first video featuring this year’s “Appreciate the Game” tagline and the players tossing souvenir wiffleballs to the fans. And so it begins…

-First seminar: Hawk and Commissioner Selig (which started with Hawk introducing Mrs. Selig in attendance). Some key points from the Commissioner:

Photo: Ron Vesely

> WILD CARD: “I believe in giving theams hope and faith, and the Wild Card has produced some of the best games in baseball history. As for the expanded Wild Card starting this season, I think it will make the races more exciting.”

>VOLUNTEER CORPS: “Baseball is a social institution with a social responsibility. The fact that the Volunteer Corps has served more than 17,000 hours…it’s just amazing.”

> DH: “For the DH to be in both leagues, it would require overall geographic realignment, which is a ways away.”

With SoxFest being just a week away, we decided to release a few of the highlights from the schedule. This is just a glimpse of what we have planned for next weekend at the Palmer House. A finalized schedule with a complete listing of autograph sessions, photo sessions and seminars will be posted on whitesox.com next week.

If you don’t have your tickets or hotel packages reserved, there’s still time to do that here.

By the way, make sure you tune into @whitesox on Twitter all next week. We’ll be conducting hide and tweets and other contests each day leading up to SoxFest for great prizes!

As many of you may know, we released most of the 2012 White Sox promotional schedule yesterday afternoon. We are thrilled that this year’s schedule includes five Kids Days, seven Value Mondays, 18 fireworks nights, as well as popular theme nights such asDog Day, Elvis Night and Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day.

In addition to theme nights, we’ve also announced some of our premium giveaway nights. Below are just a few of the giveaways that have been confirmed:

White Sox Knit Bomber Hats (April 14)

Mother’s Day Totes (May 13)

Robin Ventura Bobbleheads (May 26)

Southpaw Mini Plush Pals (June 3)

Commemorative 2005 World Series Canvases (June 9)

Kids XL 1972 Replica Jerseys (June 24)

Kids Chest Protector Backpacks (August 5)

White Sox Camouflage Hats (August 11

This year’s promotional schedule can be found at whitesox.com/promos and will be updated as additional events, theme nights and giveaways are finalized. You won’t be able to purchase individual tickets until Friday, February 3rd, but ticket packs and season tickets are available, here.

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